Getting Here

Driving

Note: relying solely on a GPS device is not recommended. Some models show the location at some 20 km away. We recommend to print or note down directions from Google Maps.

Dhamma Torana is approximately 45 mins – 1 hr driving from the GTA (Greater Toronto Area).
Whether traveling from the east of the city or the west end:

take Highway 401 to Highway 400

take Highway 400 north from Toronto

exit at Highway 89 West (take exit 75).

traveling west on Highway 89, pass through Cookstown and continue until you reach Simcoe County Road 56 (about 10 km from Highway 400).

take Simcoe County Road 56 North and travel for approximately 8 km.

the Centre is on the west side of the road and is signposted Ontario Vipassana Centre.

By Bus

Please call the office two days in advance to request a bus pickup. The Centre will provide a van to pick up servers and students from the Shore Acres/ Yonge bus stop at two times on the day 0 of the course (registration day): 11 a.m. (for servers and old students arriving early) and 3:10 p.m. (for students attending the course).

If you arrive at any other times, you need to make your own arrangements. The Centre is about a half hour drive from the bus stop.

Options

Taxi
This will cost between $50-70. Be sure to call in advance as the taxis originate in Barrie or Alliston. You can find contact information for taxi companies in this area on the internet.

UberUber costs much less. Please check Google or Uber app for details about the service in this area.

Overall IndependenceThis is a private transportation service. They will pick students up on day 0 (registration day) of each ten-day course for $30. However, there is only one car so it may not be available. Please call Sharon at 705-331-5581.

Donations are welcome for your pick-up at the bus stop to bring you to the centre or to take you back to the bus stop. These monies are used to cover our costs for gas, registration, insurance and maintenance.

The preferable bus option in terms of variety of routes, frequency of service, and location drop-off is the GO Bus.

GO Bus

GO buses run several times a day from the GO Bus Station located just east of Union Station (main railway station) in downtown Toronto (Front and Bay Streets), and also from the Finch subway station (the last stop on the Yonge Street subway line) in north Toronto. From Toronto International Airport, you can take a bus from any terminal to Union Station (+/- $16.00).

Please always refer toGO transit website for schedules, fares and for further information as schedules change often (every 3-4 months).

From Toronto, the service you require is the Barrie bound GO Bus Service which travels between Toronto and Barrie. Buy your ticket for Churchill (or Innisfil if they don’t know of Churchill) at the bus terminal or from the bus driver (+/- $15.00). You will have to transfer to a Barrie bus at Aurora. After the transfer to the Barrie bus (usually in 5 minutes) let the driver know you would like to be dropped at Shore Acres/Yonge St. at Fennels Corner (Yonge Street and Hwy 89), not Guildford/Yonge. You will likely need to press the stop request button/tape when the stop is coming up after the Shore Acres & Yonge St. announcement is made, as this is a request stop only.

Aurora or East Gwillimbury (NOT NEWMARKET) will be the transfer points depending on the time and day of travel. At times it may be a bus or a train. If in doubt, please call the office to check.

Next to the drop-off point is an Esso Station with an outside phone booth which can be used to call the centre long distance: +1 705-434-9850. If you do not have the funds call +1 877-434-9850. There is an Esso store where you can wait inside if there are any delays.

From Pearson International Airport (YYZ)

You can book a taxi service that will take you to the centre at the following site: www.simcoecountyairportservice.ca. Their phone number is 705-728-1148 or 1-800-461-7529. They do pickups at the airport every half hour.

The address of their destination (i.e. OVC’s address) is 6486 Simcoe County Road in Egbert. In brief, Egbert is just north of Alliston. Exit 75 off Highway 400; go west on 89 to 56 and north to destination.

Rideshare Board

The Rideshare Board is for students who have already registered in a course. A link to this board is sent via email to registered students.